Possible other uses might include small book publishing where the material would be technical (to include equations).

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How will it be printed — on your desktop printer, or by a commercial ink-on-paper printer?

Most often on a desktop printer. Some work might be sent to either a copy center or a commercial printer.

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Will you need to exchange files with others?

More likely I will be sent files for work. Therefore, the DTP program should be capable of importing/exporting to MS Publisher.

The ability to publish to PDF is important. In many cases, only a PDF will be exchanged.

Can Adobe Acrobat import/export PUB files?

However, for my own work needs, I don't need to save efforts in PUB format.

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So far as I know there is no DTP program that is weaker or less capable than MS Publisher.

That's good to know.

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The high-end software — used to produce newspapers, magazines, and books — is extremely capable, and expensive. It may be more than you need. This category includes Adobe InDesign and PageMaker (now virtually obsolete) as well as QuarkXPress. These are expensive and you may not need all their power.

I probably don't. I can acquire that software if ever faced with producing a 1,000 page book. I don't feel I would be doing newspaper mock ups.

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The open source program Scribus is gaining interest, and we have a couple of users here on the forum.

I should have that program on my Linux SuSE system, but I don't think it imports/exports PUB files.

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If you answer those questions I posed at the beginning of this message, we may be able to give you more focused advice.

I have answered your questions and would appreciate any revised suggestions. Any software acquired is intended for either an XP or Linux SuSE system.